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We just got nominated for Time Out Chicago's "Love Chicago Awards," and we couldn't be more thrilled! If you love City Lit, we'd love to have you vote for us! It's very quick and clickable. Promise. If you visit the voting site, make sure to select "Northwest Side" as your neighborhood, and you'll find us listed under "Shops." We wouldn't have received a nomination without your support, so we already feel like big winners!

Voting is open until November 11th. Winners will be announced the week of December 4th. Thanks for your love!

If you've been in the store lately, you'll have seen our Halloween-themed table. We have all our favorite creepy reads out on display. In case you didn't see it, or haven't visited City Lit in awhile, we're posting some scary books on our website. When you want to get the shivers, grab one of these titles and prepare to be spooked!

This is the perfect time to introduce yourself to Joe Hill. Not only is "Horns" an awesome book--it's also coming out as a movie (which is supposed to be fantastic). If you didn't know, Joe Hill is Stephen King's son. Scary is in his blood.

We're sort of biased, because Josh Malerman came to City Lit for a truly amazing event. But "Bird Box" should be on your Halloween reading list regardless. It's creative, well-written, and incredibly spooky.

If you're looking for non-fiction, check out this new book from Caitlin Doughty. “Alternately heartbreaking and hilarious, fascinating and freaky, vivid and morbid, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes is witty, sharply drawn, and deeply moving. Like a poisonous cocktail, Caitlin Doughty's memoir intoxicates and enchants even as it encourages you to embrace oblivion; she breathes life into death.” (Dodai Stewart, deputy editor of Jezebel.com)

People who go ghost-hunting deserve what they get, right? They certainly get what's coming to them in Shirley Jackson's novel. "The Haunting of Hill House" is a classic ghost-story that still has the power to scare the daylights out of you.

September 21st-27th is Banned Books Week: an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. We're honoring intellectual freedom with our Banned Books Event on Friday, September 26th. We've invited local authors Esme Codell, Beatriz Badikian-Gartler, Kathleen Larkin, and Deirdre Harrison to come by City Lit and read passages from their favorite banned books. We'll also be showcasing local high school students who will read from banned books, and some live local music.

Banned Books Week is an important event, bringing attention to issues of censorship and freedom. However, we encourage you to read banned books all year long! Here are a few of our favorite frequently-challenged titles:

Booker T Washington High School in Pensacola, Florida recently cancelled their One Summer/One Book reading program because of the chosen book: Little Brother. The story deals with teeanged hackers who fight back against police state conditions in San Francisco. Apparently the principal was not keen on the "anti-authority" tone of the book, nor of the occasional bad language and references to sex. Author Cory Doctorow took this as an invitation, of course, and has responded by sending 200 copies of the book to students.

And Tango Makes Three consistently tops the list of most-challenged books. It tells the story of two penguins at a zoo who adopt a little penguin as their own. Concerns arise because the two adult penguins are both male. This summer, due to concern about homosexual themes in the book, every library in Singapore was ordered to destroy all copies of Tango.

CPS made international headlines in 2013 when they removed Persepolis from their curriculum. Some stories say the administration ordered all copies to be removed from CPS libraries. Other stories say the book was only removed from middle school libraries. Regardless, the book is no longer taught to CPS students. Any teacher who wishes to use the book in the classroom must go through mandatory training in case students find the book too challenging or "inappropriate."

As Summer stampedes to a close, we're already pining for outdoor festivals, reading a great book on the beach, and the hot, muggy Chicago air...well, maybe not that last one. But don't worry! Your friendly, neighborhood bookstore has you covered. Before you up and move to warm climates all year round, remember the one great thing that makes September worthwhile...NEW BOOKS! That's right. September releases have us all clammoring for Summer to up and end so we can get our hands on these amazing new titles. Here are just a few of the most anticipated unreleased or just released titles of the Fall.

As most of our devoted followers know, we at City Lit Books try to provide the neighborhood with a wide array of bookclubs and (free) events. This week, join bookseller, Chelka, for her Chat 'n' Chew Bookclub!

For those of you who haven't attended, Chat 'n' Chew is all about food: reading about food, talking about food, and, of course, eating delicious, homemade, cookbook-centered food. This month, we'll be discussing a food blogger of your choosing. This could be your well-worn copy of Deb Perlman's Smitten Kitchen cookbook, Joy the Baker's cookbook, Angela Liddon's Oh She Glows Vegan cookbook, or anything else you've read, loved, and consumed!

This bookclub meets this thursday, August 28th at 6:30. So drop in with your favorite blogger cookbook and maybe a treat to share!

Just wanted to let you know about another EXCITING CCLAP Showcase open mic and reading! This month, playwright Amber Hargroder will be reading from her unpublished novel. Hargroder is well-known for her work on the one-woman show, Marilyn Monroe, Whoever you are, which she wrote, directed and starred in, as well as her active participation in the Chicago theatre scene.

In case you missed it, the CCLAP Showcase features a reading from a local author and six open mic slots to be filled by writers, poets, or storytellers. If you’re interested in participating, send an email over to cclapcenter@gmail.com. If you’re interested in listening (that's fine, too!), make sure to come by the bookstore on Tuesday, August 26th at 6:30 pm. There will be wine, beer, and great literary company!

Before I opened City Lit and I would read about
retailers’ anniversaries, I would think “good for them” and”I should really
stop by and get some free cookies. “I
could not have imagined the gratitude, joy, excitement, and pride that such an
announcement brings.Gratitude for the
unwavering support of so many families and regular customers.Joy of watching a community grow.Excitement for the new customers, books,
events, and relationships we have yet to build.Pride in a conscientious and hard-working staff that set a high bar for
customer service every day.

Today I am thankful for the support of the tremendous
community of book-lovers, the efforts of a great team of City Lit booksellers, and
the generosity of support from all of you who have helped create this thriving
and exciting place.

As true Chicagoans know, Chicago in the summer turns into one long, mad, outdoor festival. It seems like every weekend is another excuse for cold beers in plastic cups, picnic dinners, and sunscreen (not to mention that crumpled paperback you always carry with you, right?).

Right before you break down and buy those last minute Lollapalooza tickets for this upcoming weekend, consider checking out Lolla's first ever art exhibit, "Art Alliance: Provocateurs." It's set to run in tandem with the music festival from July 31st to August 4th.

"Art Alliance: The Provocateurs" will feature some of the most prominent street artists working in today's cultural climate, including the incredible Shephard Fairey. The show will stage five outdoor mural projects on Chicago walls, with Fairey's taking up 9th and Wabash. The exhibit will also have an indoor component, in case we lose our moderate summer weather or you're in need of a mid-dance break cool down at the Loop's Block Thirty Seven.

What does this have to do with us, you ask? Well BESIDES the fact that we love our fair city and are always up for spreading the word about some new event, City Lit got the tip off about 'The Provocateurs' and, being the cultural liaisons which we ARE, we're now proud to carry a collection of art folios by artists involved as well as a few limited edition pieces published for the art show.

This includes Stanley Donwood of Radiohead fame, Shephard Fairey, Banksy, Revok, Keith Haring and many more.

So after you've done the downtown thing, head up to Logan Square to check out these beautiful new editions. Trust us... They're gorgeous.

We at City Lit are proud to host the second CCLAP Showcase this month on Tuesday, July 22nd at 6:30. The reading ad open mic will take place in the store.

The CCLAP (Chicago Center for Literacy and Photography) will present the renowned Eric Charles May, author of Bedrock Faith and Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low Flying Duck, for a reading. Afterwards, CCLAP will organize an open mic for a selection of authors and poets.

If you're interested in signing up for an open mic slot in advance, write cclapcenter@gmail.com. And if you're not interested in signing up, make sure that you drop in to hear some great new authors read their current works.

We'd like to extend the most heartfelt of THANK YOUS for coming out to celebrate the first Annual Chicago Independent Bookstore Day yesterday. It was a resounding success! We love that you think of us on Saturday morning when you come to join us while Miss Irica reads and sings. We love that you were able to share Martha Bayne's delicious gazpacho creations. We love that you helped us welcome Curbside Splendor authors and followers. In short, we love that you helped us have a fabulous Chicago Independent Bookstore Day!

We are thrilled that you have become a part of our community, and honored that we have become a part of yours.